The Sri Lanka rupee flat against dollar on Tuesday, with exchange rates showing minimal movement as bond yields stayed broadly steady, according to market dealers.
Currency stable while bond yields remain unchanged
The Sri Lanka rupee flat against dollar, opening at 302.40/60 on Tuesday, slightly unchanged from 302.45/60 the previous day. Dealers noted that while the exchange rate remained stable, bond yields across different maturities reflected limited fluctuations, indicating cautious investor sentiment in the market.
A bond maturing on March 15, 2028 was quoted steady at 8.90/9.00 percent, while the bond maturing on December 15, 2029 was quoted at 9.48/52 percent, compared to 9.47/57 percent previously. The July 1, 2030 bond was trading at 9.70/72 percent, and the December 15, 2032 bond was quoted at 10.43/47 percent, showing a slight increase from 10.38/44 percent. Meanwhile, the June 1, 2033 bond stood at 10.66/70 percent.
Telegraphic transfer rates highlighted steady trends, with the US dollar quoted at 299.0000 buying and 306.0000 selling. The British pound was recorded at 403.3856 buying and 414.7474 selling, while the euro stood at 351.0459 buying and 362.4091 selling.
In equities, the Colombo Stock Exchange moved in positive territory, with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) climbing 0.38 percent, or 80.94 points, to 21,307, while the S&P SL20 advanced 0.43 percent, or 26.05 points, to close at 6,083.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka announced that Rs. 38,000 million worth of Treasury bills will be issued through an auction scheduled for September 24. On the same day, the central bank will reveal its fifth monetary policy decision for the year at 7.30 am. Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe is also set to host a press conference at 11.30 am, which will be livestreamed across all major social media platforms, offering further insight into the policy stance.